Girdling Root

This is a current situation lining our driveway right now; it looks as if one tree has decided it's already fall! A few months ago, we realized our middle tree was suffering and slowly dying. At first, we thought it was some type of bug or disease, but the fact that the other two surrounding trees were unaffected, puzzled us. Finally, as the situation worsened we called out a tree expert and our tree was officially diagnosed with a "girdling root". Basically, it is a root that grows around the trunk instead of out into the surrounding soil. As the root and tree trunk both grow in diameter, the root slowly chokes off the flow of water and nutrients to the tree. Girdling roots often happen underground and are such a gradual problem, that it is often too late to save the tree once it is detected.

The sly, subtle death that the girdling root is responsible for reminds me of someone else that prowls around like a lion, looking for someone to devour. Someone who's goal is to see us rooted and entangled in sin. Ephesians 6:12 says: "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, and against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

Satan is out to choke you to death. He wants nothing more than to steal and kill your spiritual fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. His goal is to replace life-giving with life-sucking, water with drought, and nourishment with starvation.

The question is: are you aware of any girdling roots in your life? Just like a girdling root is not seen on the surface, are you willing to dig deep into the crevices of your heart to evaluate your spiritual health? 

Without a doubt, we all desire to be the like the healthy and thriving trees! But, too often, we become unaware of the unhealthy habits and lifestyles that slowly choke us. Girdling roots often occur when the soil surrounding it doesn't have sufficient nutrients. Are you planted in life-giving soil?

Are worldly distractions robbing you of the nourishment that comes from reading the Word?  

One of the first signs that a tree has a girdling root is that it's producing smaller and fewer than normal leaves. How is your spiritual fruit production? Are you lacking love...joy...peace...patience...self control?

The Good News is that with us, it is never too late for Jesus to save us! Yes, it's too late for our poor tree and it will end up killing itself. But that does not need to be our story. Jesus redeems, restores, and brings life to our dead and broken bodies! Jesus will forever have power over sin's curse and Satan's destruction! 

Whatever girdling roots are in your life right now, I pray that Jesus can bring you freedom, life, and wholeness!